Rotor



Sept 25; 1928.

J.. JJ. RIEN ROTOR HHH lil

SM., m

JU. Jl. WIN@ ROTOR Filed .mm a, 1926 'a Shams-swat 2 15 cable to high s ldi) racruuu cor an.

' aannemen una raue a,

This invention relates in general to improvements in rotarystructures, and relates more specihcally to improvements in the Construction and operation oi rotors tor va' rions types oit machines. i

.dn object ot the invention is to provide a new and useful rotor structureespecially applicable -to tluid actuated turbines, fluid pumps, conveyance propellers, or the like.

vdnothe Yobject oi the invention is 'to provid an adjustable vane rotor which is 'simple i construction and elcient `in operation. A turther object oit the invention is to provide a rotor structure which is especially applieedrotary machines ot various types. Still another object ot the invention is toprovide improved `rotor vane adjusting mechanism which is compact in structure,- and which maybe readily manipulated either while the rotor is operating or i when it isat rest. Another object of thi invention is to provide a rotor and vane ad`- justing mechanism therefor,` whichmay be manutactured at minimum cost and which can be convenientl assembled and dis mantled. 'llhese an other objects and advantages'will'be apparent trom the following description.

lli clear conception oil an embodiment lof 3U, the invention and ofthe mode of adjusting the vanes oi rotors constructed in accordance y therewith, may be, had by reilerring lto the drawings accompanying andlorming apart ot this specication in whichv like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.,

lFig. l is a part sectional general view oli fahydraulic turbine installation embodying the improved rotor structure.

lEig. 2 isl an enlarged lragmentary part sectional view oi a portion ot the rotor vane adiustingl mechanism.

ig. 3 is an enlarged sec oi the im nes. lliig. 4l is a fragmentary part section'alview through the improved rotor,.the'section being taken in theplane ot the vane pivots. A

' lFigm 5 is an enlarged fragmentary part` tional ,view of one proved rotors having adjustable sectional viewjot the rotor, the section being taken throu rotor. i

'll`he hydraulic turbine installation to which the invention has been specihcally applied gh the v,hub cap of the improved norma.

end of ai main shaft mae. amai/infimam by way ot illustration, comprises in'general at an axial lturbine rotor 2 securedto the lower 5 with the upper end of which an energy translating .device 6 such as an electric generator, may be directly associated.. 'llhe rotor 2 is housed .within a tu main casing 7 the upper\p'ortion of which is provided withan annular series ot adjustable inlet guide vanes dior directing water toward the rotor 2 through a vane-tree transitionspace l0, and the lower portion citta 'i whichv forms a dratt tube 1l. "lhe adjustable guide vane's 8 are manipulable by means ot an actuating shalt 23 and are termed to receive their supply ot duid from an inlet tlume 9. -'l[he dra 't tube il communicates to with a tail-race l2 in the usual manner, and the entire turbine structure` is supported upon a suitable oundation l3,as shown.

'lhe rotor 2 comprises a hub d consisting v of an outer shell ortion and an' inner cen- .t5 tral portion il orrned integral with the outer shell portion and cooperating therewith to form a chamber 4:2; and a series of j tour dove-tail shaped non-overlapping` vanes 3 ,having pivots 36 journaled in both the so outer and inner hub portionsllhe rotor hub d is detachablylfsecured to a lower Harige 374 formed on the hollow main shaft 5, by means ot capscrews 38, land the opposite end of the hub d is provided with a detachable ca, whichencloses the chdmber 4t2 surroun .the inner hub portion al. Y The cap 2li vided with a plurality ot parallel gui 28 termed to coact with rollers 39 mounted upon radi'ati-n pins 3l associated with an adjusting bloc 26. The adjusting block 26 is rigidl attached to the lower extremityof a vertically slidable adjusting shaft 25 by ymeans ot a clamping nut 27, and theshalt 25 extends fu portion ttl and through the hollow main shaft 5. The portion of each vane pivot 36 which is located within the chamber d2, has a cranlr 30 secured thereto by means oit a key 4K0, and theI swinging ends oi these cranlrs my are connected with the radiating pins 3d ot the block 26 by means .olE links 31 and pins 35. Each. ont the vanepivots 36 isv moreoyer provided with an annular recess within which is located'a thrust collar 32 tlthich pre- 10a vents outward displacement of the vane 3. The outer portion of each vane pivot 36 is journaled in atlanti-friction or roller bear- .ng Y is prodeways pwardly through the central hub '95 i shaft to be transmitted to the latter.

ing 29 carried b the outer hub portion, and the inner end of each vane pivot 36 1s journaled in a socket'33 formed in the inner hub portion 41. l

The upper extremity of the adjusting shaft 25 is provided with a collar 18 coact ing through ball bearings with a casing 19. This arrangement permits the shaft 25 to rotate relatively to the casing 19, but enables motion of the casing 19 longitudinally of e casing 19 is pivotally associated with the medial portion'of a lever V14 one' end of which is pivotally fulcrumed upon the end of a swinging link 17, and the opposite end' of which is pivotally connected to an adjusting block 20. The adjusting block 20 has screw thread coaction with an adjusting rod 21 the lower end of which carries the piston 22 of a servo-motor 16, and the upper end of which is provided with an adjusting hand wheel 15.

During normal operation of the turbine unit disclosed in Fig. 1, the inlet guide vanes 8 are adjusted to admit water to the turbine from the open flume 9. The water thus admitted is caused to` advance through the transition space 10 and toward the rotor 2 in the form of a whirling mass or vortex. As the. whirling water strikes the pressure surfaces rof the rotor vanes 3, it produces rotation of the main shaft 5 and of the rotor of the energy translating devicej, thereby converting a portion of the venergy of the water into useful lfvvork. The water after passing through the rotor 2 is` delivered to the tail-race 12 through the draft tube 11 in a well known manner.

If it is desired to vary the angularity of the vanes 3 relative to the rotor hub 4, such adjustment may be effected either manually by turning the hand wheel '15, or automati-l cally by admitting fluid under pressure to one side of the piston 22 of the servo-movtor 16 and by simultaneously releasing the pressure upon the opposite side of the piston 22. Movement of the piston 22 `or of the adjusting block 2O by. manipulation of the hand w eel 15,.causes the lever 14 to swing abou its fulcrum pivot at the upper end of the link 17, and causes the casing 19 to shift the adjusting shaft 25 vertically within the main shaft 5. j

As the adjusting shaft l25 is slid within the hollow main shaft 5 andthe central portion 41 of the hub 4f, the adjusting block 26 :is simultaneously moved along the guideways 28 thereby shifting the adjusting links 31 and causing the cranks 30 to swing the vanes 3 about the axes of their pivots 36. The rollers 39 coacting with the guideways 28 and with the pins 311, reduce to a minimum the friction resulting from the sliding movement of the block 26, and the roller bearings 29 likewise reduce to a Inn' ther minimize the friction.

mum the friction resulting from turning of the vanes 3. The chamber ll2 Within the hub l as Well as the interior of the cap 2tlmay be provided with grease or other lubricant in order to insure proper lubrication of the hearing surfaces and to thereby fur- The collars 32 reacting with the pivots 36 of the vanes 3, serve to prevent free escape of lubricant and also to prevent outward displacement of the vanes without interfering with rotation thereof during adjustment.

In order to dismantle the rotor, it is merely necessary to remove the hub cap 24 whereupon the block 26 and the links 31 may be removed in an obvious manner. The thrust collars 32 are preferably formed as snap rings which are likewise accessible for removal upon removal of the cap 24. Upon removal of the thrust collars 32 the vanes 3 are free to be withdrawn endwise from within the cranks 30 and the bearings 29, 33.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a relatively simple and eliicient adjustable vane rotor. The construction is especially applicable to high speed rotary machines such'as hydraulic turbines, and the adjustment may be obviously effected at any time. Due to its simplicity, the structure may be manufactured at minimum cost and the removable hub cap 24 insures convenient accessibility to all of the internal parts of the rotor.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a hub having a chamber therein, a cap normally enclosing said chainber, said cap having guideways therein, a plurality of vanes pivotally associated with said hub, a block movable within said cap, rollers, for guiding said block along said guideways, and motionjtransmitting mechanism connecting said block and said vanes.

2. In combination, a hub comprising outer and inner portions separated by a chamber,

a cap enclosingone end of said chamber and having guideways therein, a plurality of vanes pivotally supported by said hub and having portions extending into said chamber,

an adjusting shaft slidable within said hub,V

lltldflllll praising an outer shell portion and an inner central portion, a plurality ol yanes pivotally associated with hoth said outer and said inner huh portions, reinoyahle thrust collars associated with grooves in said vanos and -engageahle with the inner surlace ol said outer huh portion to .prevent outward displacement ol said Yanes, and means lor ad- ]ustin said yanes about their pivotal axes.

4l. n combination, a hollow rnain shalt, a huh associated with said shalt, said huh comprising an outer shell portion and an inner central portion, a plurality ol yanes pirotally associated with tooth said outer and said inner huh portions, detachable means located in groores in said vanes and cooperating with an inner surlaee ol said outer huh portion `lor prerenting outward displaoeinent ol said ranes, an auxiliary shalt slidahly disposed within said main shalt and said inner huh portion, a hlocli ri idly attaehed to said anniliary sha-lt adjacent to said inner hoh ortion, and linlrage connesting said hloe t with said ranes hetween f said outer and said inner huh portions.

5.. ln cornhination9 a hollow inain shalt, a huh associated with said shalt, said huh comprising an outer shell portion and an inner central portion, and said huh portions losing lormed integral, a plurality ol yanes pivotally associated with hoth said outer and said inner huh portions, an auxiliary shalt slidable within said niain shalt and said inner huh portion, a loloolr rigidly attached to said shalt adjacent to said inner huh portion, a ca coasting with said huh andfinclosing said hloelr, said block heing slidalble within and alongl surlaees ol said sap, and linkage connecting said hloeh with each ol said 'vanos between said outer andsaid inner huh portions.

lntestiinony whereol7 the signature ol the inventor is ared hereto.

s JCUSEPH il. Rlllllir. 

